San Juan La Laguna is one of the most visited townships around Lake Atitlan in Sololá, Guatemala. It is a boat ride away from Panajachel, a tourist hot-spot best known for its volcano views and free-spirited vibes.
As one of the 11 towns surrounding Lake Atitlan, San Juan La Laguna is the favorite of many locals. Nonetheless, each town is unique in its own right. They are inhabited by various Mayan communities and exhibit a vibrancy unlike the other.
The Tz’utujil people, one of the 23 Mayan groups residing in Guatemala, comprises 95% of the population in San Juan. Situated across the waters from Panajachel, the town is known for its rich colors and beautiful graphics. More particularly, its unique methods of farming coffee and corn, talented indigenous artisans, and colorful Naïve art are what draw people towards land.
Since I was in a time crunch, I spent a single morning wandering its narrow streets and colorful alleyways seeking out stunning art pieces.
It wasn’t difficult.
At 7:30 am, I boarded a small boat from Tzanjuyú dock Panajachel towards San Juan (Q 25 & approximately 20 minutes). The minute I stepped onto the wooden docks of this small town, I was captivated by its gorgeous surroundings.
The walk uphill into the town space likened a tour through an interactive exhibition. Each turn of a corner brought me face to face with life-size images. Each entrance into a side street was accompanied by walls of various shades and hues.
Here are a few extra things to make your trip around San Juan La Laguna easier!
Find affordable flights on Kiwi, a booking site that mixes and matches flights from different airlines to find the best/most economic route (Kiwi offers a money-back guarantee if you miss a connection).
Use iVisa to check and apply for a Guatemalan Tourist Visa as needed.
Take a tour of towns around Lake Atitlan on this day trip.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars.
Discover economic hostels on Hostelworld.
Depicting Culture & History
San Juan La LaGuna is famous for its talented craftsmen and traditional methods of farming coffee beans and corn. The town is also known for its weavers, who are some of the few indigenous artisans that produce their own dyes from local plants for the thread they use.
Depicting Tradition
Traditional clothing, musical instruments, and gorgeous colors are all part of the package in San Juan, Guatemala.
Depicting Modernity
But of course, some pieces also reflect pop culture & technology!
The Message
I took some time wandering along the small streets towards the back of the town. Along the way, I spotted some graphics of a noticeably different style 😉
What to Bring Home
Lastly, the street leading towards the dock features some of the most colorful souvenirs. They really captivate the energy of San Juan and are definitely worth taking home!
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